A retrospective exhibition of the work of Charles Lutyens, set within the span of his most extensive work - the mosaic cycle of the 'Angels of the Heavenly Host' at St Paul's Bow Common - closes officially tomorrow; although the paintings can be viewed by arrangement for a further two weeks and the sculpture of the 'Outraged Christ' will remain at the church for a further year.
"The mosaic cycle of the 'Angels of the Heavenly Host' was an intended and integral part of the church when it was designed by Robert Maguire (architect) and Keith Murray (designer) from 1956 with the Foundation stone laid in December 1958 and the building consecrated and dedicated on 30th April 1960. Work on the mosaics began in 1963 and during the next five years Charles Lutyens worked on this huge expanse of 800 square feet, day by day and piece by piece, an astonishing endeavour for one person by any reckoning."
"In the Christian and Jewish tradition angels have various functions and duties. There are those who act as Divine Messengers - great figures such as Gabriel, Raphael, Michael. There are others whose task is confined to the heavenly realms - to surround the Divine Being with ceaseless worship and praise, to wait upon and attend and minister to God. It is these beings - the 'Angels of the Heavenly Host' - that Lutyens represented on the spandrels above each of the pillars in the church."
Lutyens has said that:
"My work has always arisen out of my experience of being in the world which is, successfully or not, how I explore my creative ideas. The opportunity to make an image of 'Angels of the Heavenly Host' inevitably put me to the test in this regard. To experience the gravity of the making of this mural and the enormity of the task both spiritually and materially certainly put a measure in some way on my later creative work."
"The wooden sculpture of the 'Outraged Christ' crucified stands 15ft tall and is made of soft and hard ‘found’ wood beams and planks, split by axe and intuitively applied to the body of the sculpture by drilling and dowelling, using a construction adhesive and shaped largely by chainsaw and broad chisel. Lutyens created the head 30 years ago and held its image and intent in his mind for most of this time. 5 years ago he began to explore the sculpture further.
More generally Crucifixions depict suffering, wounded or dead, ‘sleeping’, sweet and beautiful or apparently forgiving Christs. However, in the course of work Lutyens’ sculpture has grown into an “Outraged Christ”. For him this interpretation is significant and relevant for our present times, and resonates particularly with the question “what are we doing”?"
"As an artist Lutyens has actively embarked on a more or less consistent search for images that communicate his experience of life. His art works are his representations of ‘Man and his Being in the World today’. They reference life’s experiences and are also imbued with psychological and spiritual content. His engagement with people goes beyond surface appearances; his portraits are highly charged with colour and compelling juxtapositions of shapes which expose both inner fragility and strength."
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John Tavener - Song of the Angel.
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